Scientific and Adventure Tourism in the Forests of Lakekamu Basin, Papua New Guinea

by Conservation International

Partners:

Conservation International (CI) Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific (FSP) Wau Ecology Institute (WEI)

Success Stories

The four Lakekamu Basin landowner representatives who traveled in July to Madang had no idea what to expect from the workshop on Strategic Planning for Community Based Ecotourism Product Development in PNG. They had been hearing about ecotourism and its potential benefits for many months, but remained unsure of what it would entail and unconvinced that this sort of development was in their communities' best interests. Once at the workshop, Matai Kai, Clement Peter, Roehanny Yenip and Jacky Miwa joined other landowners, NGO representatives from similar ICAD projects elsewhere in PNG, tour operators and ecotourism professionals for a week of intensive, hands-on training, discussion and planning.

Many of the concepts were difficult for someone with no business background to understand, but with help from a professional tour operator who spoke fluent Neo-Melanesian Pidgin, participants began to comprehend the complexities and difficulties of producing a successful ecotourism enterprise. The Lakekamu Basin representatives and field staff from FSP formulated a business plan that best suited their communities and the Basin environment. Afterwards, secure in a clearer understanding of ecotourism development, each of the landowners pledged to return to the Lakekamu Basin and work for the creation of ecotourism enterprises in their respective communities.

Challenges

The Lakekamu Basin project's most immediate challenge this year has been completing construction of the permanent field station at the Ivimka research site. Progress on this integral part of the project has been hampered by chronic illness among field personnel and the long supply lines to Wau and Lae. These two problems have been addressed by emphasizing prevention of malaria and other tropical diseases, while adequately and quickly treating them when they do occur, and by procuring larger amounts of medicines and replacement parts for integral pieces of equipment. As a result of these measures, construction of the field station should be completed by the end of 1996. The longer-term challenge is to continue to build the capacity of FSP field staff and local landowners to successfully implement the ICAD program.

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